speaking of burn rates, I read that gunpowder was once originally used in Asia to cauterize wounds - how crazy is that?

If its good enough for Rambo, its good enough for me! LOL

A Mac tech from New England- you wouldn't be with Small Dog, would you?

A friend has an interesting fire starter recipes that feature a Kingsford BBQ brickette. Sometimes just wrapped in aluminum foil. Sometimes in wax paper. His more elaborate was a version that had been smeared with a bit of Vaseline and dipped in wax. Kingsford seems to be the best brand because it has, evidently, more potassium nitrate that allows it to light quicker, stay lit in light rain, and form a nice coal very quickly.

That is interesting.

This may warrant testing in the future

Although it's only a single briquette, I assume standard CO warnings would still apply?

(And if I'm overreacting, let me know. I recognize that I'm very sensitive to the subject due to life experiences of my own.)

As it would with virtually any fire starter product, assuming it is being used to start a fire. The fire itself would be generating CO and therefore should only be in an area with adequate ventilation.

Pete

I'm surprised the wax, I'm guessing parrafin, didn't inactivate your smokeless powder, Mac. What size steel wool did you use, 0000? I've found that to burn well, unless it rusts, which it does almost instantly when exposed to moisture. Good test, good report. Thanks.
Any combustion, possibly except hydrogen/oxygen, will produce CO and so should be done in well-ventilated area.

Little saftey tip here: The melting point of candle wax is lower than the boiling point of water. To melt candle wax, put your melting pot in a larger pot of water and bring the water to a slow boil. (i.e. use a double boiler)

Slower than a propane torch, but much safer.

Old boy scout trick for making fire staters is to pour wax into egg cartons (the thick paper type, not the styrofoam ones) with dryer lint or saw dust. You get 12 little cups that burn for a long time. Tear or cut off one of the cups and light the paper.